THE BOAT

West Germany, 1981, 199 minutes, Colour.
Jurgen Prochnow.
Directed by Wolfgang Petersen.

The Boat is a big budget war film from the West German film industry. It is an attempt by Germany to look back at the heroics of World War Two, but with a critical eye on the Nazis as well as a tribute to the loyal men of the U boats. The action sequences of this film are powerful and the atmosphere of fighting in the U boats very well presented. The film makes a strong statement about involvement in war, the effect on the men, the dangers, the suffering as well as the heroism.

This Powerful emphasis on the war sequences almost makes an audience forget how conventional the material is. It is the kind of material that was presented especially in the '50s glorifying British involvement in the war. The gallery of characters is fairly conventional and there is regular use of expected situations and crises. The technical excellence of the film and the vividness of its story carry the audience along, making it forget the conventions. The film is interesting in its memories of the war, in its critique of the Nazis, in its presenting for Allied audiences 'the other side' of the fighting of World War Two.

1. The impact of the film as a German film, a German look at World War Two, a tribute to the U-boat men? As a war film? As a human document? The importance of the introduction about the 30,000 of the 40,000 U boat men who did not return from the war?

2. The film as a product of the German industry of the 80s? Big budget? Special effects? Colour photography, the submarine, the sets, the locations, the sea sequences? Editing and impact? The score and its rousing tone? The insertion of French and English songs?

3. Germany and the war from the vantage point of 1980? The history of the war? The new generations and their memories? Nazism? The costs of World War Two? Loyalty to the Fatherland? A critique, yet a human document? Audience involvement with the men, the work of the U boats? Heroism, fighting, survival, using wits? The costs of war?

4. The film in the tradition of all war films? The introduction to the involvement in the war, the gallery of characters, comradeship in the U boat, the detailed technology of the submarine, the clashes, the action sequences, the contrasting of values of those involved in the war? Heroism? The power of the film transcending the stereotypes?

5. The background of the German occupation of France, of La Rochelle? The docks and the building of the submarines? The destruction of this set at the end? The picturing of the rough waters of the Atlantic? Gibraltar and the Mediterranean? The reaction to the Germans in France, in Spain? The occupied nations' acceptance of and dislike of the Germans?

6. War and fighting, loyalty to Fatherland rather than to ideologies? The tasks given the military? The opening reception and the pressures of war, the reception in Spain and the tribute to the heroes? The other side of war and the sinking of the British ship and its burning, not picking up the survivors? The two sides of war, depending on the vantage point of view?

7. The opening, the party, the letting off steam, the singing and the dancing, the drinking and the carousing? The tribute to the U boat Captain? The reaction of the officers, the sailors? The Lieutenant journalist?

8. The establishing of the way of life on the boat? The U boat as a character of the film: its size, the enclosure the camera going back and forth, the showing of the Lieutenant the details of the U-boat and the audience sharing this? The Captain and his calm control? The Chief and his abilities? The layout of the boat, cramped style. the bunks, the toilet, engines, food storage etc.? The life and comradeship? The focus on male isolation? The V.D. checks after leaving port? The hopes for enjoying Christmas? The chatter amongst the men? The experience of sailing, of diving?

9. The ship and its capacities, illustrating of these: the diving, the surfacing and the storms, the attacks and the torpedoes, the depth charges and the shattering of the submarine, the strategy for getting past Gibraltar, the sinking, the repairs, the raising of the submarine? The techniques used for conveying the life on the submarine, the claustrophobic effect, moving camera, editing etc.?

10. The repercussions on the men: the Captain and his silent control, calm, relationship with the Lieutenant, Johann’s cowardice and his benign treatment of this? The Chief and his ability at repairs? The reaction to the lavish meal in Spain? The Captain and his strategies? The end and his apology to the Lieutenant? The pathos of his death?

11. The Lieutenant as the earnest young man, his observation of life on the submarine, sharing the life, his curiosity, fear, entering into all activities? His fear in the sinking? The apology of the Captain? The bombardment at the end and his futile looking at the Captain? The final image of the dead Captain and the shocked Lieutenant?

12. Johann and his fear, his return to the Captain, his heroism in getting the engines going?

13. The Chief and his dedication to fixing the boat?

14. The sketch of the men in the submarine? Their work, effort, collaboration? The end and their heroic return? The bombardment and strafing? So many deaths? The futility of war? The sad comment on their heroic survival?

15. The validity of the film as a comment on World War Two, Germany in the war? The Allies? A comment on all wars?